The Rift Walker (36 page)

Adele's lips quivered with anger. “I will tell you once more, my father was killed by vampires, yes, but not
this
vampire. We will find those responsible, and they will die by my hands, that I can promise you.”

“Well,” mocked Mamoru, “at least you don't love all of them.”

Adele stepped closer to her teacher, her expression like ice. “Go and see how much love I bestowed on them in the Mountains of the Moon.”

Anhalt nodded. “That is true. And Greyfriar did nothing to stop it.”

Mamoru's gaze flicked toward Gareth. “That makes you even more a monster.”

“I have chosen my side,” the vampire argued.

“Enough, please.” Adele leaned wearily against Gareth. Her eyes softened with sorrow. “Mamoru, Colonel, I need you to trust me.”

“You ask much, Your Highness.” Mamoru stood rigid.

“I know the truth in my heart and soul. He is as loyal to me as both of you.” She held out her hand again to Mamoru. “I can't make sense of this world without you. Please.”

Mamoru closed his eyes. Adele had said the only thing that could have calmed his fears and hatreds for the moment. She wanted to be guided by him, which was the most important key to the future. Mamoru knew that despite his furious desire to kill the creature next to her, he had to be cautious or he might drive Adele away or unwittingly encourage the vampire to strike at her out of fear that his ruse had been overturned. He was loath to leave them alone, but they already had been together for many weeks. Adele would be safe enough as long as the vampire thought his scheme was still in play. Mamoru almost admired the stoic vampire's nerve. The samurai straightened, fighting his surging panic, and took Adele's hand, drawing it to his forehead. “I will do as you ask, Highness, for the sake of you alone.”

Adele released her pent-up breath. “Thank you. Your loyalty will not be in vain.” Then she regarded Colonel Anhalt. The pain in his face was obvious. How many more times could she test the man before he crumbled? She regretted not taking him into her confidence weeks ago to ease this inevitable blow. She smiled in an attempt to show her appreciation for protecting Gareth from Mamoru, but when he did not return it, her heart broke.

The colonel holstered his pistol and bowed stiffly. “I'm grateful I do not have to tell your father about this situation.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice as the two men departed.

Gareth said nothing when her head lifted to look into his blue eyes, full of remorse. She fell against him, and he held her up because she didn't know if she had the strength to stand on her own.

A
DELE WAS SHAKEN
by Colonel Anhalt's ashen pallor when he entered her chamber. He carried a telegram in his hand as if it were a poisonous snake. Giving him an understanding, bemused smile, she took it, then read out loud: “Princess. Regret to confirm the passing of His Imperial Majesty Constantine the Second. By Act of Commons (Succession Act of 2020), His Imperial Highness Prince Simon is declared Emperor Presumptive. Most Sincerely, Kelvin Pasha, Khedive of Equatoria.”

Adele laughed bitterly. “Kelvin Pasha? What sort of foolishness is that? This is the extent of his reply to my message?”

“Yes, Highness,” Anhalt said.

She mocked Kelvin's terse note. “Thanks for your inquiry, but the position has been filled.”

“Apparently so, Highness.”

Adele quietly tapped her foot, her narrowed eyes darting about her lush room in the royal palace in Bunia. Options hung in the humid air around her, and she considered all of them. Politics gave her some respite from her father's death and the memories of the leathery feel of his hand on her wedding day, and how that rough hand must have tried vainly to fend off Flay.

This was Cesare's revenge.

On the opposite side of the room a hidden door clicked open and Greyfriar entered slowly. The colonel stiffened noticeably and took a step back. Greyfriar greeted the Gurkha silently. The princess rose quickly and took the swordsman's arm. Anhalt averted his eyes.

“Has your government replied?” Greyfriar asked her.

“They have. It seems I'm not needed.”

“Aren't you the heir?”

She laughed. “I am, but that's not always the point. You know that.”

“Could your brother rule in your place?”

“Not yet. He needs guidance.”

“Someone other than your Lord Kelvin?”

“Yes.”

Greyfriar crossed his arms. “After recent events, my preference would be to go away from here. By all pretense and purposes, you are free. We could leave our people to their bloody business, and it need be none of our concern.”

“There's a part of me that wants that desperately.”

“As do I. But we are cut from different cloth than that.” Greyfriar straightened, every inch a prince. “But if you ask it of me, I could leave tonight and find a place for us to live in peace.”

“I can't.” Adele lowered his smoked glasses and stared into his blue eyes.

“I felt I should ask. You deserve the chance for some happiness.”

“We both do.” She embraced him and held him tight for a moment.

“But not today,” he whispered sadly.

“No, not today.”

“By your leave, Highness.” Anhalt's voice was hoarse. He bowed stiffly and started to depart, no longer able to watch this impossible scene.

Before Adele could speak, there was a rap at the main mahogany door and it opened yet again. Mamoru entered, surprised to see the company with the princess. Greyfriar's grip tightened, and she heard a low growl coming from deep inside the vampire.

Mamoru approached, his dark eyes locked solely on Adele, as if she were alone. “Senator Clark can be detained no longer, short of the grave. He comes with the king.”

Adele rolled her eyes in dismay. She had almost forgotten about the senator, who seemed the least of her concerns. However, clearly the American wasn't content with being the least of anyone's concerns.

The three men staked their ground around the princess. Adele noted with regret that the two who had guided her all these years were bitter enemies of the man she loved. They were all dependent on her, but incapable of sharing her. Gareth's invitation to disappear with him sounded safe and promising. So simple, yet out of the question.

The princess poured wine for everyone, including Greyfriar, and distributed the goblets personally with smiles and reassuring touches. Anhalt nodded with sadness. Mamoru's face was a blank sheet, but his eyes betrayed the terror of a man inside an iron maiden. She could tell Greyfriar was still weak as he angled his body away from Mamoru but didn't otherwise give ground, which pleased Adele.

The chamber filled with uncomfortable silence broken only by the distant sound of the daily thunderstorm rolling in from the rainforests. Adele crossed to the French windows and threw them open, inviting in a gust of freshening wet air that added a green and overripe smell to the always-smoky haze of Bunia.

With billowing curtains surrounding her, Adele turned to the tense room, took a deep breath, and smiled broadly. “Well, this is nice, isn't it?”

The trio remained mute. Anhalt and Mamoru swirled their wine with disinterest while Greyfriar stood unnervingly still.

Adele said with a sigh, “Gentlemen, I know this is disturbing for you, but it's the situation I find myself in. I have no official claim on your loyalties now, so if either of you desire to abandon my service, I hold no umbrage.” Anhalt began to speak, but she held up a hand for silence. “Please, let me finish. I can't predict my future. I have no idea what is in store for me. At most, I desire all three of you to be at my side. At least, I ask for discretion. Obviously my personal situation is…unique, and it would create great distress for many people should it become public knowledge.”

Colonel Anhalt hissed through clenched teeth, “Your Highness, if I may. I have served you without question since you were a girl and never have you done anything unworthy. Until now.”

Adele lowered her head in sorrow. The colonel had never spoken to her in such a way. She knew that her connection to Gareth had wounded him deeply, perhaps irrevocably. The Gurkha officer had been as much a father as her true father, perhaps more, but now Adele had crossed an inconceivable line. Though she wouldn't apologize for it, she understood Anhalt's inability to sanction it. Adele had put him in an untenable situation; he had betrayed his nation for her, and she had left him with this terrible scene. He deserved so much better from her. Until now, she had never before considered life without Colonel Anhalt a possibility.

She murmured, “I understand.”

The colonel placed a knotted hand on the hilt of his saber, and Adele steeled herself for the sight of his back, perhaps for the last time.

In a strained voice, he said, “The day my sword is not at your service will be my last day on Earth.”

Adele choked back a sudden sob with a grateful smile.

Mamoru said quietly, “And I am but your teacher. Your future is my future. If you are willing to learn, I am willing to teach.”

“More than ever.” Adele raised her wineglass to the two men, and they all sipped with relief. Finally, something had gone right. Perhaps she might get a decent night's sleep for the first time in months.

Then, even in the vast chamber, even with strong mahogany doors, even with the din of a tropical rainstorm pounding outside, the roar of an approaching Senator Clark echoed, smashing Adele's momentary calm. She drained her wine with a weary groan.

The booming American voice preceded the massive door flying open as Clark argued with those who followed unseen, “I don't need a formal introduction to see my own wife!” And there he was, among them in a sharply pressed dress blue uniform with yellow kerchief, brass buttons, and white gaiters. His eyes burned and his white teeth glared from his black beard. He nodded deeply at Adele, a cynical eyebrow raised.

“Well, well, Princess Adele,” he said with posed pleasant tones. “Remember me? I'm your husband.”

The princess narrowed her eyes in mock concentration. “The voice is familiar.”

“It ought to be.” Clark smirked. “The last time you heard it, it was saying
I do”

King Msiri shoved into the room behind the senator with an embarrassed smile and swinging a royal fly whisk. He wore a traditional robe off one shoulder, showing his muscular frame to good purpose. “Your Highness, the senator requested an audience with you. It seemed unlikely he could be refused. You don't mind, do you? No? Good.”

“Quite all right, Your Majesty. I want to see him. We have business.”

“Business?” Clark approached with outstretched arms. “Is that how you think of our marriage?”

“I try not to think of it at all.”

“Maybe not, but it's a fact. A legal fact.” He reached out and took her begrudging hand. “I hold no grudges. So let's just put all this rigmarole behind us and get on with it.” Greyfriar stirred ominously, and Clark slipped an eye toward him. “You always wear that thing wrapped around your head?”

Adele extracted her crushed fingers from Clark's meaty grip. “Get on with
what
exactly?”

“Wedded bliss. And ruling the world.”

“Senator, before you go on—”

“And on,” Anhalt added.

Adele crossed to stand a distance from Clark in front of a wall hanging consisting of elephant tusks and spears. “I am informed that we are not legally married due to the failure to sign the banns. An odd technicality, but the law of the land nonetheless.”

Clark gave Mamoru a savage glance. “You've heard that, have you? Well, that sort of trivial legality is for small people, and we're not small people, you and I. We stood together before the world and spoke our vows. Where I come from that makes us married.”

“Perhaps. But this isn't where you come from.”

“You know your father is dead, don't you?”

Adele's demeanor froze. “I do.”

“I was there that night. I was there protecting your throne and your family. Must've been a thousand vampires led by that thing called Flay. You know her, I believe, and you know what she's capable of. I couldn't get to your father in time to save him, but I kept her away from your brother. It was pretty damned horrible. Your men fought well.” He turned purposefully to regard Anhalt. “Those who stood with their emperor, anyway.”

Adele said stiffly, “I know all about that night from Mamoru. I thank you for your efforts to protect Simon.”

“Of course. And speaking of Simon, you know that the boy is under Lord Kelvin's thumb, right? He's a prisoner in the palace. Kelvin has taken over Equatoria. He has a cadre of Persian troops in Alexandria to keep order, and he's doing his best to put his own toadies in positions of power. The provinces won't stand for it. There's already talk of secession in Bengal and the Cape. And”—Clark now added King Msiri to the victims of his baleful gaze—”Katanga is ready to drive across Tanganyika and link up with Zanzibari rebels to cut East Africa in half.”

“Mere rumors,” Msiri replied blandly. He waved the whisk as if to disperse the accusation, which was common knowledge.

Clark continued, “Equatoria will fall to pieces without a strong hand at the tiller.”

Adele tilted her head. “Meaning
you?”

“Meaning
us”
The American sat on the edge of a table, looking quite comfortable and sincere, almost reasonable. “Adele, you're the heir. Your father fought like hell to keep you in succession. He wanted
you
on the throne. Poor Simon is surrounded by snakes up there. He's just a boy, and he has no one to help him. You should be there. You know that.” Clark poured a glass of wine. “But let's be honest too; the people won't accept you alone. There was a lot of dissatisfaction about you even before your recent escapades. There's a lot of concern about your ability. Fact is, most folks think you're crazy. You don't have a lot of support in Alexandria right now.”

Adele turned to Mamoru. “Is that your reading of the atmosphere?”

The samurai was silent for a moment, then sighed. “To some extent, among the nobles, yes. However, I sense the common people have a certain appreciation for your romantic escapades.”

Clark scoffed. “Nobody wants a breathless heroine as their leader. Particularly not in time of war.”

Adele snapped at him, “Then how do you imagine I can go back if I'm viewed as some unstable eccentric?”

“With me at your side. Your people want a firm hand. They need a firm hand. Our marriage is a done deal, banns or no. You're the rightful heir, and I can hold the army. If we show up together in Alexandria and kick Kelvin out, the city would never stop cheering our names.” Clark held out his hand. “You have to go back. You know it and I know it. And I am the only way you can do it.”

“Retract your plan to cull the northern humans.”

“I'm not here to debate strategy. We can worry about that later. Your Empire is going to fall to pieces without us.”

Adele felt numb. It was true that she had never been popular among the wealthy old Equatorian families, many of whom provided the Empire's military commanders. That was why Clark the vampire-killer had been courted as her husband in the first place. The grandees wanted a military man next to the throne for a future that promised protracted warfare against the vampire clans. Adele had earned some cachet after her return from the north as a figure of mystery, but she could only imagine what ammunition the debacle of her wedding had given her detractors, led by Lord Kelvin. Her chief asset, in fact her only asset, was Senator Clark. He was respected and feared. He brought the power of the American alliance with him, and the threat of Equatoria losing her strongest war ally if he departed.

“You must go back.”